Oz52 c37 31/10 66k3102 Fairlight Sydney - Shellharbour Village

I was guided, and for the first 3 stages, accompanied, by Tim and Siobhan, thus cycled to Manly terminal, took the ferry to Sydney harbour, walked (Sunday Sydney city) the bike to the train station, skipped the S Sydney suburbs by taking a train to Waterfall, a few k S of (the) Botany Bay, then, back on the road, pedalled S.

Got off the freeway and was rewarded by stunning scenery on the coast road between Stanwell Park and Thirroul.

Oz51 c- 30/10 Sydney

Cared for and entertained by Tim, Siobhan and Daisy.
Swam in the surf at Manly beach.
Got bike repaired
- front wheel had been deforming  - -  got five spokes replaced and wheel straightened  - -  otherwise a front wheel collapse at speed could have caused a serious crash (buisy highway ...)
- clamped braces to a snapped rod in the front pannier frame  - -  caused in Queensland by the rough roads but jury-rigged until now.

Oz50 c36 29/10 92k3036 Gosford-Fairlight Sydney

First 5k uphill out of Gosford at 7:00 set the theme for the day -- -  hilliest yet.
Used the old pacific hwy through forrested hills  - -  spectacular sights and bird(?) calls  - -  many other cyclists  - -  refreshed at the 'Pie in the Sky'.
Clocked 3kk.
Last 20k across N Sydney's hills was hard work in suburban traffic.
Made it to Tim & Siobhan's.

Oz49 c35 28/10 92k2944 Newcastle-Gosford

Varied coastal scenery, many attractive inlets and peninsulas.
Passed through SWANSEA

Oz48 c34 27/10 100k2852 Buladelah-Newcastle

Seems this area was settled by Geordies  - -  place names include Hexham, Stockton, Wallsend.   So the palm trees provide something of a contrast.

Oz47 c33 26/10 119k2752 Kew-Buladelah

Best road conditions so far for cycling:
- smoothest surface so far minimising rolling resistance
- shallow uphill slopes meant I could cycle most of them
- shallow downhill slopes assisted me for long stretches.

Two laps of Wales done.

Oz46 c32 25/10 70k2633 Kempsey-Kew

Alternating heavy showers and drizzle, plus truck spray  - -  on the averagepomonabike scale Oz is wetter than Wales

Oz45 c31 24/10 112k2563 Coffs Harbour-Kempsey

Used the Pacific Hwy, wanted a shorter day, but no motels until K

Oz44 c30 23/10 83k2451 Grafton-Coffs Harbour

Avoided the Pacific hwy  - -  went the scenic (hilly) route  - -  wonderful bird songs.
Stayed at a town centre hotel where they warned me there would be live entertainment until 2am  - -  slept from 9pm through it all.

Oz43 c29 22/10 97k2368 Woodburn-Grafton

Fastest speed for a day yet.   Saw first Sydney sign  - -  743k.                                                          

                                                          

Jacaranda in Grafton

In Grafton met David who'd sailed the Sydney-Hobart, cycled Alp d'Huez and Ventoux and ski'ed Whistler  - -  small world.

Oz42 c28 21/10 75k2271 Cape Byron-Woodburn

Celebrated my birthday at 07:30 at the most Eastern point of the Australian mainland.

then headed south

Oz41 c27 20/10 117k2196 Runaway Bay-Byron Bay

Villages and servos becoming more frequent, so managed to avoid the heavy showers.
Another long day.

Oz40 c26 19/10 119k2079 Brisbane-Runaway Bay

Due to bad nav, missed turnings, out of date map not showing latest highway upgrades to motorways, hilly cross country roads to get back on track, cycled 30% further than planned to get there.
Clocked up 2000k.

Oz39 c- 18/10 Brisbane

Bike fixes: front panier frame, new chain & 8speed cassette, new gloves.
Staying at Wooloongabba <1k from the stadium.

Oz38 c25 17/10 16k1960 Carseldyne-Brisbane

Short ride into Brisbane
Took a ferry ride for the full loop up & down the river

city centre

                                  party boats

                          river bank houses

Oz37 c24 16/10 88k1945 Caloundra-Carseldine

Gettung close to Brisbane so having to avoid 'no cyclists' routes.
Difficult finding a place for the night because Metallica concert fans got in first..
Rescued by the Strathpine i-visitor fellahs.

Oz36 c23 15/10 66k1856 Noosa Heads-Caloundra

1st half: surf sound and views from the coast road.  Convoluted and hilly route because of
a) the coastline
b) backtracking after being confronted by an unexpected motorway ie no cyclists
2nd half: more direct, built up like Costa del Sol 15 years ago, but with sane drivers

Oz35 c22 14/10 95k1790 Gunalda-Noosa Heads

Left the Bruce maybe for the last time.
NH: an upmarket area of homes with access to engineered sea inlets

Oz34 c21 13/10 84k1695 Howard-Gunalda

Oz33 c20 12/10 88k1611 Bundaburg-Howard

Back on the Bruce at Childers
Clocked 1000miles since Cairns
Stayed at a van park with a courtesy bus to the pub in Howard

Oz33 Queensland hotels

Tether your 4WD outside
Downstairs: XXXX, tucker, pokies, keno
Upstairs: dorms, rooms with shared facilities

Oz32 c19 11/10 61k1523 Rosedale-Bundeburg

Set off anxious that I was down to my last inner tube, because my attempts at fixing the punctured tube had failed.   Worked out OK.
For the second half of the ride I cycled into the strongest headwinds so far, combined with a downpour.   Arrrived like a drowned rat, at a pleasant friendly helpful motel.
Got two new tubes.

Oz31 c18 10/10 68k1462 Seventeen Seventy-Rosedale

Three punctures in short succession  - -  walked the last 2k to Rosedale.
Found a place for the night  - -  the tackiest so far.
Found the cause of the punctures  - -  a spike which had pierced the tyre and stayed there. 

Oz30 c- 9/10 22k1395 Seventeen Seventy

Explored Seventeen Seventy and Agnes Waters

Oz29 c17 8/10 77k1381 Bororen-Seventeen Seventy

First day cycling off the Bruce Highway  - -  relief after 1300k
Now done the same distance as my 09/2009 lap of Wales
Pleasant run through to Agnes Water / Seventeen Seventy
Day off tomorrow to explore.

Oz28 c16 7/10 93k1303 Mount Larcom-Bororen

Section of the highway heavily used by truckers, many double artics.
Lots of road kill to avoid.
Glad to finish safely.

Oz27 c15 6/10 78k1210 Rocky-Mount Larcom

Crossed the tropic of Capricorn.
My punk helmet worked  - -  there were many occasions when magpies swooped but each time failed to attack because of the helmet spikes, even though I shouted "Bring it on !"

Got some interesting comments at refreshment stations.

Oz26 c- 5/10 Rocky

Rest day after the "gap".
Not exactly T E Lawrence crossing the empty quarter to take Aqaba
but I'm enjoying a real lemonade
Attractive town, colonial architecture.
Fitted spikes to my helmet to deter magpie strikes.

Oz25 c14 4/10 105k1132 Marlborough-Rockhampton (Rocky)

Getting fitter, fastest average speed, good supplies and refreshment points.
Hot.

Oz24 c13 3/10 106k1023 Clairview-Marlborough

Passed the 1000k point.
Countryside now dry forrest, a change from the endless cane sugar fields of prior days
Vital refreshment point closed "due to illness"  - -  none in final 70k
Had to conserve water so rationed to 3 mouthfulls at 10k stops.  Arrived very thirsty.

Oz23 c12 2/10 94k917 Sarina-Clairiew

Hilly route slowing average speed
Ended up at a beach front caravan park celebrating Sat evening with locals.
Knowing the ride ahead, it was an early night for me.

Oz22 c11 1/10 39k823 Mackay-Sarina

Short journey but slowest to date because of up to 30k headwinds.
Sarina the jumping off point for the 300k "gap" to Rockhampton